Hardwood Floor Maintenance [ go back ]

Hardwood floors have been experiencing a resurgence of popularity in recent years.  Once thought to be difficult to care for, hardwood floors are now seen as an easy to maintain, beautiful alternative to tile, and even carpet.  This is largely a result of improvements in the technology of hardwood floor finishes.  These new finishes make keeping your hardwood floor looking like new an easy task.  Just follow these simple maintenance procedures…

Protect Your Floor

Place throw rugs in front of sinks in your kitchen and any doors leading to the outside where heavy traffic and tracking occurs.  However, do not place rugs for at least 2 weeks after application to allow the new finish to cure completely.  Chairs and any other furniture that are moved frequently, should have felt floor glides attached to the bottom of each leg to help prevent scratching and wear.  Be sure to clean floor glides regularly to prevent any build up of grit.  Floor guides should be replaced when they appear worn. Do not wax the bottom of chair legs.

Regular Dust Mopping or Vacuuming

Regular dust mopping or vacuuming is an essential part of hardwood floor care.  A good quality dust mop or vacuum head is the most effective tool for cleaning dust and dirt of the floor.

To keep your floor looking its best, dust mop or vacuum at least twice a week.  Dust or vacuum more often on floors with heavy traffic.

Regular Cleaning

Spills and tracked-in dirt can be cleaned by lightly damp mopping the floor with a house sponge mop.  Use clean water for regular sponge mopping. DO NOT over-wet the mop.  Excessive water could damage the floor.  In addition to cleaning with water, it may be necessary to clean with a mild all-purpose cleaner at least once a week.

The following products are recommended for Water-based finishes:

All purpose cleaners.
Spic & Span liquid (1/4 cup per gallon of water)
Mr. Clean (1/4 cup per gallon of water)
Parsons Ammonia cleaner (1/3 cup per gallon of water)
Spic and Span pine liquid (1/4 cup per gallon of water)
Pine Sol (1/4 cup per gallon of water)
Lysol liquid (1/4 cup per gallon of water)

Window cleaners:
Windex
Glass Works
Glass Plus
(Spray glass cleaners on a water dampened sponge mop. 
Do not spray directly on floor  (except for a heavily soiled area.)
 

Do not use any of the following products, or products similar in nature:

Fantastik
Formula 409
Dish washing detergent
Murphy Oil Soap
Paste wax
Powdered all-purpose cleaners
Endust, pledge or other dusting products, Future, Mop ‘n Glow, Brite, or other floor polishes will actually make the floor harder to clean and cause problems for future re-coats.

Following a regular maintenance program will preserve the life of your hardwood floors for years. However, despite all of their advantages, all urethane/acrylic floor finishes will not last forever.  Eventually, your floors may need to be re-coated.

Hardwood floors should be re-coated when the original finish is showing signs of wear but before it has worn down to bare wood.  Bare wood will be stained by dirt and grime and will need to be re-sanded.  When you have questions about re-coating your floors please feel free to call and we’ll come out and determine if a recoat is needed.  (A re-coat is much cheaper and convenient than a re-sanding.)

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